JAY B Delivers Nostalgic Performance on 'tape: roots' Tour in NYC

Breaking news to your phone. US mobile only. No password required.

Broadway + NYC

Broadway

Off-Broadway

Off-Off Broadway

Cabaret

Dance

Opera

Classical Music

West End / UK

International

Canada

Australia / New Zealand

Europe

Asia

Latin America

Africa / Middle East

Entertainment

Ctrl + K to open · Esc to close

JAY B, the leader of the K-pop group GOT7 who has had quite the career as a solo artist, brought his latest tour to the Palladium Times Square in New York City.

Most Popular

Get all the top news & discounts for Music & beyond. No password required.

JAY B, the leader of the K-pop group GOT7 who has had quite the career as a solo artist, brought his latest tour "tape: roots" to the Palladium Times Square in New York City on September 23. He brought his signature smooth nostalgic-sounding vocals, sensuality, and effortless charm while still showcasing a relaxed vibe and clearly having a ton of fun on stage.

Get all the top news & discounts for Music & beyond.

From the beginning, there was a sense that JAY B was there to have fun, with the first few songs showing off a more chill vibe, from his outfit to his dancing. The styling of JAY B's first look immediately established the opening section of the concert’s more casual, effortless tone. Rather than feeling overly formal or heavily constructed, JAY B’s wardrobe consisted of a simple t-shirt and jeans, a rare occurence for a K-pop show, especially in the opening stages. The outfit matched the vibe of his first few songs, "go UP", "The Way We Are", and "FAME", which were accompanied by brightly colored lights and projections on the screen behind him.

The casualness of the outfit didn't mean the show lacked professionalism. In fact, it was much the opposite. JAY B showed that he could command the stage while still looking relaxed and having fun, accompanied by just four dancers, two women and two men.

The use of co-ed dancers was another notable element of the show. Rather than treating the dancers simply as background performers, the choreography told a story during several songs, with the dancers acting out mini scenes through their movements. This gave the show more dimension and brought depth to the lyrics JAY B was singing, rather than the dancers just being an afterthought.

Later on, JAY B swapped his casual look for a black suit jacket, fitting the vibe-switch as he sang the more formal-sounding ballads. This switch from his first, more casual outfit brought out a more sensual tone to the performance, and was accompanied by more sensual choreography as well.

Musically, the concert drew heavily on a nostalgic sound that felt particularly appropriate for JAY B's catalog. With GOT7 being a 3rd generation K-pop group, JAY B's vocals have a very distinct tone that is reminiscent of that era. He showcased these butter-smooth vocals in songs like "Time" and "Dive Into You."

The VCR segments helped give the concert some additional narrative structure, as we saw JAY B take on a character in a perfume ad, "Smells Like JAY B." The first VCR had a more serious tone, with the performer playing the role of a "greasy and cringey" (his words) guy, promoting his perfume. The second ad, however, took on a much more comical tone, with JAY B playing "Dr. Jay", and singing and dancing to a silly song about the fictitious perfume. Rather than simply functioning as transitions between costume changes or sections of the set, these VCRs showed JAY B's sense of humor and gave the show a narrative structure.

This also leads into my next point: JAY B is a FUNNY guy. Despite using a mix of English and Korean, and relying on a translator for much of his ments, JAY B was cracking jokes and making his fans laugh every time he spoke. He interacted with the crowd, responding to one fan saying he should move to New York with "I love Korea — but not North." During these moments it felt like we were all just hanging out together, sharing a laugh.

There was a noticeable contrast between JAY B the performer and JAY B simply having a good time onstage. He could go from belting powerful vocals and fluid body rolls to joking with the audience moments later, making the concert feel less like a carefully controlled presentation and more like an evening spent with an artist who genuinely enjoyed being there.

During the encore, JAY B came offstage and moved around the venue, getting closer to the fans and creating more intimate moments with them. For his final act, he performed a few GOT7 songs, much to the excitement of his fans. He joked that he should have just done a DJ set with GOT7 songs instead of his full show, since the audience reaction was so loud. Hearing those songs performed by JAY B in this setting gave longtime fans an opportunity to reconnect with an important part of his career, while the audience's reaction made clear just how much emotional history is attached to that music.

Nominate your favorite local productions and performers before the deadline on October 31, 2026.

To post a comment, you must register and login .

Macklemore Gains 2M Instagram Followers After Ed Sheeran Tour Removal

Photos: AI Twins Neuro and Evil to Perform First-Ever Live Concert at Vermont Hollywood

Troye Sivan Returns With New Single 'Party'

Haiden Henderson to Launch DUMBLOND Tour 2027 Across UK, Europe & North America

Also text me

When are you seeing ?

AMPERS&ONE is one of those groups that I’ve always had my eye on, and now their growth is undeniable. Read my review of the group's 'Born to Define' tour in New York City.

Japanese boy group ONE OR EIGHT have been on an upward trajectory since they last stepped foot in New York. Read our review for their latest appearance, on the 'GATHER' tour.

JUSTB is having a well-deserved moment right now. On their Snow Angel tour, I had the opportunity to chat with members Geonu, Bain, Siwoo, DY, and Sangwoo all about their musical journey, relationship to the fans, and what sets them apart.

Rising K-pop boy group AMPERS&ONE will make their return to America with their new tour, “2026 AMPERS&ONE LIVE TOUR 'Born To Define' IN USA,” in support of their upcoming 4th mini album, '[DEFINITION]'.

Get an Alert Each Time Stephi Wild Writes

BroadwayWorld TV

Breaking Broadway news & show discounts. No password required.

Also text me

POPULAR

Sign up for announcements and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows!

© 2026 — Copyright Wisdom Digital Media , all rights reserved. Privacy Policy

Episode

_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Review-JAY-B-Brings-Nostalgic-Sound-and-Effortless-Charm-on-tape-roots-Tour-20260927)._